June-July 1961

At the May 27-28 Dixie Regatta hosted by Fleet 48, T.C.A. President Skip Allcorn (897) won in a commanding performance with his crew, while Dave Ortman (1515) and Bob Bauer (528) placed second and third respectively, demonstrating the variety of competitive boat setups in the fleet.

The 1961 Thistle National Championship will be held in Racine, Wisconsin from August 21-25, with registration and event details available from Ed Zimmers in Racine.

Glenn Clark (1407) was crowned the 5th District Champion in Hawaii's Fleet 76, edging Jack Wyatt (1421) in a close competition where Clark finished 51 seconds ahead and won the final race by over 2 minutes.

In a notable victory over the Race Committee, Thistle 949 sailed by Ev and Meg Harrell beat the official race boat in an upwind competition, proving that Thistles can outperform even official boats.

David L. Korris, owner of Thistle #935, seeks other Thistle owners in the Little Neck Bay area to form a fleet, offering sponsorship of Sunday afternoon races in a scenic bay location within easy driving distance of Manhattan.

The Thistle Class Association proposes significant amendments to permit aluminum masts and updated weight specifications, addressing concerns raised by the Chief Measurer about boat class uniformity and allowing flexibility for equipment improvements.

Chief Measurer Dave Minton discusses the inconsistent measurement of sails at District Championships versus National Championships, advocating for individual measurement by members to avoid disqualifications and ensure consistency across events.

National Champion Bruce Goldsmith explains the rigging of jib sheets using movable blocks, providing detailed specifications for achieving reliable handling under various wind conditions.

The 1961 Spring Regatta at the Shreveport Y.C. in Louisiana featured strong, gusty winds that tested sailor skill, with Gene George taking first place overall and a notable course design innovation showing the challenges of competitive sailing in variable conditions.

Bob Young's painting of a sailing Thistle won first place in an art contest, with the artwork featuring artistic merit though not conforming to strict cover specifications.

Ham deFontaine, art director of Yachting magazine, selected Bob Young's painting for first place from eight artists, with Peter Flood taking second, Bob Kronenberg third, and Bob Cassidy fourth, with entries also submitted by Richard Chego, Sue Dourner, Art Ware, and Jeannie Vaughn.

Peter Flood's painting received second place honors in the Bagpipe art contest.

Bob Kronenberg's painting received third place honors in the Bagpipe art contest.

Bob Cassidy's painting received fourth place honors in the Bagpipe art contest.

The Atlantic Coast Championship will be held August 12-13 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey at Raritan Y.C., with limited housing available and local motel reservations required by August 1. The event includes races Saturday and Sunday with optional cocktails and dancing.

Only 3 of 5 races were completed in the Admiral Farragut Regatta in Knoxville due to high winds that stopped racing when the Thistle fleet met at the finish line, with Howard Mead winning on Saturday's points and Dave Minton of Columbus taking trophies.

A continuation of technical discussion about Thistle sailing techniques and rigging issues, focusing on various jib rigging solutions and their effectiveness in different conditions.

The Cowan Lake regatta on June 24-25, 1961 featured 54 Thistles competing in heavy air with numerous capsizes and swamps, showcasing a new triangular course design that guaranteed plenty of sailing action despite challenging conditions.

Gary Spahr won the Dam Full Regatta at Leatherips Y.C. in Columbus on June 10 with steady sailing across three races, with Richard Peake finishing second and John Procter third in what marked a competitive field of 38 boats.

Pete Bordes won the Milford Y.C. Springs Series with a perfect 1-1-1 score, repeating his similar win from 1960, with Walk Stubner and Fontelleau taking second and third places in the standings.

A lighthearted column from Chief Measurer Homer Abramson addressing various administrative matters including mail delays, address changes, and new parenthood news from the Thistle community.

Bill Walton (447) of St. Louis won the 8th annual Regatta sponsored by the NASHVILLE TENNESSEAN and Nashville Sailing Association in May 2011, with strong overall performance earning him the Challenge trophy against other Lightning and Thistle class boats.

Nineteen Thistles competed at the annual Ohio Inter-Club Yacht Association Regatta held June 17-18 at the Mohican Sailing Club in Mansfield, Ohio, with Marlin Abramson winning overall and the class demonstrating strong competitive performance.

Jimmy Phelps (355) won first place hardware from the Queen of the Cotton Carnival for his 1, 3 finish in the Memphis Cotton Carnival Regatta on McKellar Lake in Memphis, competing against 13 other Thistles in this annual event.

A collection of classified advertisements for Thistle boats, sails, rigging equipment, and sailing accessories, including boats for sale, liquidation sales, and various marine products and services.